Hello all,
I am about to purchase a 1979 CX500 custom as my first bike. Bike is running fine, the only issue my friends dad (very mechanically knowledgeable) was able to spot was a coolant leak when we started the bike. the leak can be seen on on the right side of the bike where the water pipe is connected to the engine. There is an O-ring right there and we think that if we replace the O-ring the leak will stop. I am hoping this can be done without taking the whole engine out (which some people online have already told me). Below are pictures from the manual and the bike showing exactly what I am talking about.
I want to remove the water pipe (43) and replace O-ring (44)
More pictures from manual highlighting the water pipe (red) and the location of the O-ring (green)
This is a random pic online of the bike where I think I highlighted the same water pipe and circled the exact spot where I saw the leak (99% this was the spot)
I want to do this job without removing the engine. I am hoping I can just disconnect the water pipe from the radiator and engine and just put it back with a new O-ring in place. So my questions are:
Is this leak detrimental to the bikes function to ride safely?
Do you think replacing the O-ring will stop the leak?
Can I perform the job without removing the engine?
I am about to purchase a 1979 CX500 custom as my first bike. Bike is running fine, the only issue my friends dad (very mechanically knowledgeable) was able to spot was a coolant leak when we started the bike. the leak can be seen on on the right side of the bike where the water pipe is connected to the engine. There is an O-ring right there and we think that if we replace the O-ring the leak will stop. I am hoping this can be done without taking the whole engine out (which some people online have already told me). Below are pictures from the manual and the bike showing exactly what I am talking about.

I want to remove the water pipe (43) and replace O-ring (44)


More pictures from manual highlighting the water pipe (red) and the location of the O-ring (green)

This is a random pic online of the bike where I think I highlighted the same water pipe and circled the exact spot where I saw the leak (99% this was the spot)
I want to do this job without removing the engine. I am hoping I can just disconnect the water pipe from the radiator and engine and just put it back with a new O-ring in place. So my questions are:
Is this leak detrimental to the bikes function to ride safely?
Do you think replacing the O-ring will stop the leak?
Can I perform the job without removing the engine?